For whatever reason, I can't get the 1500 up on it's center-stand for winter storage in my unheated garage with a concrete floor. It the past years, it had not made any negative difference (that I could tell) just heaving the tires directly on the concrete, but just thot I'd check with you guys. What do you use, if anything?

hap2 wrote:OK, but exactly HOW would that make it easier to put on the center-stand?

It raises the bike's centre of gravity up, making it easier to 'pop' up.
If you are uncomfortable trying that, then run the rear tire up on a piece of 3/4" plywood and then try it.
Once you master the technique, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about beforehand!

Dusty Boots wrote:
Once you master the technique, you'll wonder what all the fuss was about beforehand!

Indeed. The 'Wing is the first bike that I've had that has a center stand. When I first got it I had a devil of a time getting it up on the stand and I thought there was no way I would be able to do it on my own. After reading some comments on the forum and watching a couple videos I figured out what my problem was and now it's a piece of cake.

I think one of the most important things is to make sure the bike is upright and centered on BOTH legs of the center stand. My problem was that I was trying to raise it up while it was still leaning to the side. Having it up on both legs distributes the weight better and you get better leverage.

One other thing that I've found helps a bit is to make sure the bike is in neutral first or at least pull in the clutch. That way I'm not fighting the engine for that little bit of moving backwards before the rear wheel lifts up.

/dwight

Every day is a good day for a bike ride. Some days are just better than others.

Thanx for all the helpful suggestions & info. I guess I'm abit afraid of physically leaning it over to far to the right trying to put it on the centerstand & having it fall. I'll just need to practice with a friend present just in case. I will try max-ing the air in the rear shocks & over inflating the tires, altho I never did that before & never got flat spots. I will also try the plywood also.

1) make sure both legs are touching the floor/ground when you lift the bike up off the sidestand!
2) when you go to step up on the centre stand, put all your weight on the centre stand while giving a gentle tug up on the passenger grab handle!!!

The only time I use the side stand is when I am just parking the bike temporarily!

When parking the bike overnight (or for storage) I always use the centre stand, even if my camper is attached to the bike's hitch!

The only exception is when I am parking on a gravel/dirt/grassy surface at which time I'll place a round metal junction box cover (attached to one of those casino wrist bands) under it and attach the other end to my clutch lever.

I've had 3 Wings. The last 2 (both 1500's) I have stored always on the sidestand for the winter in an unheated garage with a cement floor. I haven't even put anything under the tires. No problem at all. I just make sure the tank is full with gas stabilizer & I take the battery out. Oh yes, I've also covered it with 2 bedsheets (breathable) & plug the exhaust pipes to prevent any mice or whatever getting in (altho I have never seen one mouse in the garage).

I check the tires (& everything) in the spring with no change & it starts right up! (Am I just "lucky" [whatever that is], or what?)

Storing on it's side stand can lead to a pretty good puff of smoke out of the exhaust on start up at times. Storing it on the centrestand eliminates that

I always change the oil/oil filter, add some Seafoam and top up with fuel before I put mine away for the season. Once stored, I never start it up until it's time to take it out of storage and start riding again.

hap2 wrote:OK, but exactly HOW would that make it easier to put on the center-stand?

If you look at the geometry of the center stand, when it actually contacts the ground, it is fairly far down in its arc, and is moving mostly to the front. This, along with the lever you're standing on, gives it tremendous leverage in lifting the bike up. You press down on the center stand lever, which in effect rotates the center stand forward, and in the process lifts the bike up only a few inches before it passes by the center and then back down a slight bit, which is what keeps it from rolling off.

If your bike is lower to the ground (low tires, low rear suspension), the center stand is much farther away from its lowest point - which means you are putting a lot more effort into actually lifting the weight of the bike, without the significant mechanical advantage that the leverage affords you when the center stand is more extended.

So basically, the higher the bike is when the feet on the center stand contact the ground, the less effort you're going to expend in pushing the bike the rest of the way up.

As mentioned, make sure BOTH feet of the center stand are firmly on the ground before you do this lift. For the first couple of times, it might help to have a friend on the other side of the bike to give you assistance if you think the bike is going to fall away from you (as long as both center stand feet are on the ground, it won't). Also, keep the side stand down on your side, in case you don't do it right and have to let it back down.

I uses to ride a first gen Yamaha Venture. For the life of me the only way I could get that thing on the center stand was to run the back tire up on a 2X4. On my 1800 GW I leave the side stand down and then step on the center stand while holding the left handle bar grip and the passenger grab handle. Then slowly lean the bike away from me until I feel the second leg of the center stand touch the cement. Then I lean it a little further until both legs of the center stand are in firm contact with the floor. Then I stand on the center stand and pull up on the grab handle and it pops right up.

Pam wrote:I uses to ride a first gen Yamaha Venture. For the life of me the only way I could get that thing on the center stand was to run the back tire up on a 2X4. On my 1800 GW I leave the side stand down and then step on the center stand while holding the left handle bar grip and the passenger grab handle. Then slowly lean the bike away from me until I feel the second leg of the center stand touch the cement. Then I lean it a little further until both legs of the center stand are in firm contact with the floor. Then I stand on the center stand and pull up on the grab handle and it pops right up.

That's it, that's the procedure. If you need a little more help, pull backward on the left handlebar at the same time with your left hand.

I don't think the carpet will slide because the weight of the bike is on it, (three points of contact, both tires plus the side stand) I think I would push/roll the back tire up on a 2X6length ways, that gets the bike that much higher and put it up on the center stand. That way the entire weight of the bike is supported by the frame and not the suspension

The only exception is when I am parking on a gravel/dirt/grassy surface at which time I'll place a round metal junction box cover (attached to one of those casino wrist bands) under it and attach the other end to my clutch lever.

Why do you attach the junction box cover to the clutch cable via the elasticated band?

The only exception is when I am parking on a gravel/dirt/grassy surface at which time I'll place a round metal junction box cover (attached to one of those casino wrist bands) under it and attach the other end to my clutch lever.

Why do you attach the junction box cover to the clutch cable via the elasticated band?

It reminds you that it's there, so you don't forget and accidentally ride away without it!

4X6 will make it to high, 2X4 works best, put your side stand down, turn off ignition, dismount, insure front tire is straight forward, push your bike straight up, push down on the center stand until you can feel it resting on both legs, push down on the center stand and at the same time pull up and back on the passenger handle. your bike is now on the center stand. Remove the 2X4 from under the rear tire and store for next time.

It reminds you that it's there, so you don't forget and accidentally ride away without it!

Yep, stupid question! Though not as stupid as trying to show off to some drop dead gorgeous German girls on a camp site in France once. I took off like a bat out of Hell but neglected to first remove the security chain I had put through my front wheel. Painful and not cool. They were out of my league anyway.